1571 Living In the Flow

This week, we’re going to do something different. Each day this week, we will be in the book of Romans for a deeper study. Over the past few days, God has been drawing me in to these specific scriptures and making them come to life like never before. I’m excited to share all of this with you!

Today, we will begin with my favorite verse in Romans. A verse that brings me the greatest comfort in troubles and hope in the future. But, we’re not going to just stop with this one often quoted scripture, we’re going to read the rest of the paragraph for even more. I’m telling you, what God has shown me in this one little paragraph in my bible has had me in a perpetual ah-ha for days.

How many of you would admit you over-complicate things sometimes? You overthink things and make things harder than they really need to be. Today, let’s let God drastically simplify a few things for us so we really get it.

Romans 8:28 (you might know this scripture): “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” Other translations put it in terms we can really understand. “We are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together for good. We have been called to fulfill his designed purpose.”

My sister, EVERY DETAIL of your life becomes part of something good when given to God. He wastes nothing and uses everything. You don’t have to hide those struggles from him … hey, he already knows about them, and yet here he is today still pursuing you. In your hands, those struggles just eat away at your confidence and self-worth. In God’s hands, those struggles become a ministry! They become an open door for God’s power to flow through you! Of course the enemy of your soul wants you to hide in your shame and wallow in your guilt because he knows what will happen if you turn that over to God! He knows every ounce of harm he has thrown your way will be turned on him by God, and it will all be used for good. And this goodness is part of God’s designed purposes for your life!

But, it doesn’t stop there. I usually stop there. I read verse 28 and I’m off searching for my purpose. I’m digging through the bad things in my life and reminding God they’re not good yet. But today, let’s keep reading.

Romans 8: 29 & 30, “For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son. And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.”

Woah, that’s a lot. We have an entire waterfall of promises here. Don’t choke on the overflow, let’s get in the flow. One leads to the next, then the next, flowing over our lives and flooding us with hope and assurance. Today, let’s get in the flow and receive everything God is offering us!

This flow begins with those God foreknew. Foreknew means to know before. And honey, God knew you before! He knew you before you achieved any level of success and before you screwed up. He knew you before you got it wrong and before you got it right. He knew you before. You are among the “foreknew”. Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.” Oh yes, he definitely knew you BEFORE. He knew you before because he CREATED you with a great purpose in mind.

And with that, the flow over your life begins.

For those he foreknew, he predestined. Do you understand what predestined means? It means you are chosen. YOU. ARE. CHOSEN. God Almighty, the creator of the universe, chose YOU. He wanted you.